Cho Ki-chon: The Person Behind the Myths

The article questions the traditional perceptions and revisionist reinterpretations of Cho Ki-ch'ŏn, a Soviet Korean poet and literary official who played a special role in early North Korean history. The article analyzes the figure of Cho in the historical context of the epoch, adds some previously unknown data, and reflects on Cho Ki-ch'ŏn's legacy and impact on the North Korean literary world. The argument is largely based on information from new primary sources (Cho's personal dossier, his letters, private papers, interviews with the poet's friends and relatives) and an analysis of the original texts of his works.